IT WAS at a communist school and the teacher told the children to stand up and say aloud, “There is no God!”
A little nine-year-old girl in that class knew very well there is a God. Did not her father and mother pray to Him? Had she not often prayed to Him herself, and received answers? Was not this proof enough that there was a living God, and how could she deny Him? Thus in fear and trembling she refused to obey the command.
The teacher became very angry, and said: “Go home and write 50 times, ‘There is no God,’ and bring it to me tomorrow morning.”
The little girl went home and told her parents all about it. She feared the Communists and prayed earnestly to God for guidance. Finally she wrote 50 times, “THERE IS A GOD!”
The next morning the child gave the writing to her teacher. As he read it he became furious and ordered her to write 500 times “There is no God!” promising he would resort to other punishment if she refused. The girl knew what this meant — DEATH. However she remained calm, and without dismay went home and told her father.
The father’s eyes rested on the God-fearing child, and with a long smile said tenderly: “Be of good cheer, tomorrow we will go to the superintendent.”
That night she slept peacefully without fear, knowing that God would not forsake her. Together father and daughter went to the superintendent the next morning and told him the whole story.
Smiling, the man said, “My dear child, the Lord has already undertaken for you. Yesterday your teacher was killed in a motorcycle accident. The matter is closed.”
ML-04/04/1976